Man arrested after apartment fire
KAYE THORNBRUGH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 8 months AGO
Kaye Thornbrugh is a second-generation Kootenai County resident who has been with the Coeur d’Alene Press for six years. She primarily covers Kootenai County’s government, as well as law enforcement, the legal system and North Idaho College. | January 26, 2021 1:00 AM
COEUR d’ALENE — Police arrested a man they say set fire to his apartment and caused over $4,000 of damage.
Jared L. Vlasaty, 40, is charged with first degree arson and malicious injury to property, both felonies.
Police responded around 4:30 a.m. last Wednesday to a report that a man had thrown a burning newspaper out the window of a Coeur d’Alene apartment. A witness said she heard a fire alarm inside the unit.
Smoke was coming from an open window when police arrived, according to court documents. Officers reportedly saw Vlasaty in the kitchen, which was full of smoke billowing from the oven, and removed him from the apartment.
Police reportedly observed burned pieces of newspaper throughout the apartment, as well as a burn mark on the living room carpet and other significant damage.
The damage to the apartment was estimated at $4,450, according to court documents.
Vlasaty allegedly told police he lit the items on fire with his oven.
Police arrested Vlasaty at the scene.
Judge Ross Pittman ordered Friday that Vlasaty be held on $100,000 bail.
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